News release

Canadian healthcare companies provide medical aid for people of Zimbabwe

Montreal, QC (June 10, 2008) -- The people of Zimbabwe are in a desperate situation and Canadian healthcare companies are responding with significant donations of medical aid through Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC).

Medicines and medical supplies worth more than $3 million are being packed in a container that will leave the HPIC Distribution Centre in Mississauga in mid-June to be delivered to the Salvation Army Howard Hospital, located 80 km north of the capital city of Harare.

The Howard Hospital is best known to Canadians as the place where conjoined twins were born in 2004, and flown to Toronto to be separated at Sick Kids in March 2005.

The community has been devastated with the combination of the downward spiral of the economy, the ravages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and food insecurity. In this context, medicine for the hospital pharmacy is often not available or not affordable.

Canadian Dr. Paul Thistle, chief medical officer - and presently the only full-time physician - at the Howard Hospital said, "The donation of medicine and medical supplies from HPIC will go a long way to bridge the gaps in the provision of basic health care services at Howard Hospital. It will allow our hospital to be a beacon of hope in a very difficult environment."

According to Glen Shepherd, Executive Vice-president and COO of HPIC, this shipment illustrates the good things that happen when people and organizations come together. "It's all about partnership. Here we have a dozen healthcare companies from different sectors of the industry, the Salvation Army, a handful of financial donors, a Canadian doctor and HPIC. Together we will bring healing to thousands of people."

"I have been personally involved with both the Howard Hospital and HPIC," said Dr. Keith Martin, Official Opposition Critic for International Development and Member of Parliament for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. "It gives me great pleasure to see these two organizations working together to bring some relief to the suffering people of Zimbabwe. These medications from HPIC are going to save lives. Thank you once again for meeting the basic needs of a people the world has forgotten."

Her Excellency Florence Chideya, Zimbabwe's ambassador to Canada, expressed her appreciation on behalf of Zimbabweans, both here and at home. "The government of Zimbabwe is grateful for the generosity of Canadian companies and is pleased to facilitate the entry of this medical aid into the country."

HPIC (Health Partners International of Canada) is a medical aid organization dedicated to improving access to health care and medicine in the developing world. Since 1990, HPIC has provided more than $250 million of medical aid to 116 countries. www.hpicanada.ca

About HPIC

Health Partners International of Canada is a humanitarian not-for-profit relief and development organization dedicated to improving access to medicine and enhancing health in the developing world. HPIC contributes to well-being by providing donated essential medicines, supplies and vaccines, building national health sector capacities, and responding to emergencies and health threats. We partner with a network of ministries of health, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and healthcare professionals, with pharmaceutical and healthcare product companies, and with Canadian government departments; and we count on the financial support of individual donors, foundations and corporations. Because of our unique model, HPIC multiplies every donated dollar to provide, without discrimination, at least $10 of free medical aid.

For more information contact:
Christina Parsons
Director, Corporate Communications
514-822-1112, ext. 119
email: